Apparatus and Method for Patient Rounding with a Remote Controlled Robot

1. A method for monitoring a patient, comprising: generating a robot movement input command at a remote station; transmitting the robot movement input command; receiving the robot movement input command at a robot that has a camera and a microphone; moving the robot to view and hear a patient; and, transmitting an image of the patient and a sound of the patient from the robot to the remote station.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robot moves across a floor of a medical facility.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robot movement input command is generated by a doctor.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a video image and a sound of a doctor at the remote station to the robot, the video image being displayed by a monitor of the robot, the sound being generated by a speaker of the robot.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robot movement input command causes the robot camera to zoom relative to the patient.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a video image of a medical chart from the robot to the remote station.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating and transmitting a question from the remote station to the robot.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the question is generated by a speaker of the robot.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the question is displayed by a monitor of the robot.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robot movement input command is transmitted through a broadband network.

11. A method for monitoring a patient, comprising: generating a plurality of robot movement input commands at a remote station; transmitting the robot movement input commands; receiving the robot movement input commands at a robot that has a camera and a microphone; moving the robot from a first patient room to a second patient room of a medical facility; and, transmitting an image of a patient and a sound of the patient from the robot to the remote station.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the robot movement input command is generated by a doctor.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting a video image and a sound of a doctor at the remote station to the robot, the video image being displayed by a monitor of the robot, the sound being generated by a speaker of the robot.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the robot movement input command causes the robot camera to zoom relative to the patient.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting a video image of a medical chart from the robot to the remote station.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating and transmitting a question from the remote station to the robot.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the question is generated by a speaker of the robot.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the question is displayed by a monitor of the robot.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the robot movement input command is transmitted through a broadband network.